LIBERTY, NY — On Monday, October 26, 2026, at approximately 10:20 a.m., officers from the Village of Liberty Police Department responded to a business on State Route 52 in the Village of Liberty following a report to Sullivan County 911 of a male assaulting a female.

Liberty Police officers arrived at the scene within three minutes of receiving the call and located the female victim nearby. Officers located the male suspect inside the business and immediately took him into custody.

A subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect had entered the business and proceeded into a room not accessible to the public, where he physically assaulted the female victim, prevented her from leaving, and attempted to forcibly rape her. Despite the violent assault, the victim was able to fight back, escape from the room, and flee to a nearby business, where a concerned citizen called 911 for assistance.

The suspect, identified as Aaron Rosario, 30, of Liberty, New York, was arrested at the scene.

Rosario was charged with the following offenses:

• Attempted Rape in the First Degree – New York State Penal Law §§ 110.00 and 130.35(1), a Class C felony.
• Kidnapping in the Second Degree – Sexually Motivated – New York State Penal Law §§ 135.20 and 130.91, a Class B felony.
• Burglary in the Second Degree – Causes Physical Injury/Sexually Motivated – New York State Penal Law §§ 140.25(1)(b) and 130.91, a Class C felony.
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree – New York State Penal Law § 130.65(1), a Class D felony.
• Strangulation in the Second Degree – Causes Physical Injury/Sexually Motivated – New York State Penal Law §§ 121.12 and 130.91, a Class D felony.
• Assault in the Third Degree – New York State Penal Law § 120.00, a Class A misdemeanor.

Rosario was arraigned in the Town of Liberty Court before the Honorable Judge Johnstone and remanded to the Sullivan County Jail without bail. He was scheduled to return to the Town of Liberty Court on October 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.

Chief of Police Steven D’Agata stated, “This was a particularly violent crime, and I want to commend the victim for her courage in fighting back against her attacker and escaping to safety. I also want to recognize the citizen who called 911 and remained with the victim until officers arrived. Our officers’ rapid response and immediate actions prevented this individual from committing further acts of violence. Our department remains committed to holding violent offenders accountable and protecting victims of crime".

The Village of Liberty Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Sullivan County District Attorney's Office.

Criminal charges are merely allegations that a defendant has committed violations of the criminal law and are not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, during which the burden rests with the State of New York to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.